A project two years in the making is nearing the finish line—the Essex Land Trust (ELT) has completed all the steps needed to be considered for National Land Trust Alliance accreditation, a program that recognizes land trusts that meet stringent quality standards. Accreditation is important to the 50 year-old ELT, an independent, non-profit organization supported by donations and managed by volunteers, as it approaches landowners, donors, and other supporters.

“Acquiring this accreditation is something that will be very good for the ELT,” said ELT board member Joel Anik. “It will let everyone know that we have gone through a rigorous process and been approved. In addition, it will boost our reputation and help us when we are going for grants and funding.”

With a goal to preserve and enhance the community’s open space and natural resources for the benefit of future generations, ELT has acquired 1,049 acres of land. It acquires and preserves open space both to protect the environment and the small-town character of the community and to provide passive recreational and educational opportunities.

“Achieving accreditation goes back to our mission to do the best we can to preserve open space in our community,” Anik said. “I got involved with the ELT because I wanted to give back.”

Anik has been involved within the accreditation process, which began in 2016 with the formation of an application team.

From there, the ELT worked on collecting information and documentation. It assessed policies and procedures and completed a baseline of reports, working to adopt new standards and procedures, focusing on areas of governance, finance, acquisitions, and stewardship. This was followed in 2017 by the development of a new strategic plan for all functional areas. Last month, the team submitted the full application for accreditation to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance.

The commission is now in the process of evaluating ELT’s policies, procedures, and documentation, relative to 12 established standards (“best practices”). It will meet with the ELT to address comments, questions, and concerns. The hope is that sometime in summer 2019, ELT will receive the accreditation seal.

After five years, the Accreditation Commission will require a renewal process, which will enable the ELT to confirm that national standards are being followed and current requirements are being met.

For more information about the ELT, visit www.essexlandtrust.org.